Liverpool were snubbed by leading transfer target Antoine Semenyo during the winter window as Manchester City beat them to the punch.
The Reds had earmarked the impressive Ghanaian as a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah and many reports suggested they would rival City for his signature in January.
Now he’s firmly off the table, Liverpool must consider other options to fill the gap that will soon be left by Salah. The Egyptian is out of contract in 2027 but there are building rumours that he could leave at the end of this season.
Yan Diomande
At just 19 years of age, Yan Diomande is already a popular name in the transfer rumour mill. Liverpool are among the clubs who have been linked with interest in the Ivory Coast international, while Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have also been mentioned.
Diomande is a left-winger by trade but can operate comfortably on the right as well. In fact, most of his appearances this season for RB Leipzig have been on the right wing. The 19-year-old has notched eight goals and six assists in all competitions so far, including a hat-trick against Eintracht Frankfurt in December.
Sky Germany reported back in October that Diomande could already cost as much as €100 million (£87m).
Bradley Barcola
Caught Offside recently reported that Liverpool were ‘early favourites’ to sign Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain. The 23-year-old has been linked with the Reds for some time now as they look to sign a new attacking wide player.
Barcola produced a whopping 42 goal-scoring contributions in all tournaments last season, which is very much a figure you would associate with Salah. Like his counterparts on this list, he can perform on both the left and right wing. Barcola has even operated as a centre-forward, which fits the style of Liverpool existing forwards, who can also slot into versatile roles when it’s required.
The France international has been outlined as an ideal injection of something new and exciting for the Reds, who are stumbling through an overall disappointing season.
Nico Williams
Nico Williams is a name who has been linked with the Premier League for a while now with Arsenal and Mikel Arteta keen admirers but they seem to lack room in their squad to offer Williams the minutes he will demand. An eye-popping update from December claimed that the Spanish international ‘accepts the offer’ of playing in England and joining Liverpool.
Williams’ release clause has reportedly risen to €95 million (£83m) and 2026 has been tipped as the year he could finally leave Athletic Bilbao, the club he joined as a boy. Another report late last year claimed Liverpool were ‘preparing’ an offer for the 23-year-old to coax him to Anfield this summer.
Williams is another top quality left-winger who can play on the right. Fichajes reported that while Liverpool search for a long-term Salah successor, the Spaniard ‘perfectly fits the profile of a player’ the Reds would want to step into the Egyptian’s shoes.